For those like me, finals are done and over with. Whether or not you've passed has transformed from something to stress about into something that's just to be accepted because there isn't anything you can do to fix it now. So congratulations, you've finished off the regular semester and are headed into this wonderful thing called summer break.

Now, summer isn't necessarily a break anymore. Not when you're a college student trying to pay for tuition and crazy summer nights out. Not when you're a college student trying to build relevant work experience and submitting resumes to every firm in the city. Not when you're a college student trying to finish your degree in the four years you promised your parents (and your bank).

Basically, summer isn't the same kind of do-nothing, Phineas and Ferb-esque ordeal that it used to be. Between jobs and classes and everything else that come with age, it kind of seems hard to fit in all the fun things that define summer.

The key is simple.

It's just good planning. Really good planning.

First step is to know everyone's schedule. By everyone I mean you, your friends, and your family. You can put your nose up and plan yours first without consulting anyone but you'll probably end up with a lot of conflicting commitments. If the majority of your squad is working mornings and you have the option to choose your hours, then choose to work mornings as well. Then you'll all be free to get together in the afternoons. If you don't have the luxury of picking the times of your commitments? See if anyone might be able to take one for the team and line theirs up with yours. When it comes to my friends who go to school out of state, this is so important because I really won't see them otherwise.

The next thing is to figure out what big events you want to go to. Concerts? Public events? Birthdays? Sporting events? Family vacations? Weddings? I like to keep my evenings free because I know there's still a good month and a half left of playoff hockey on. I've already marked the dates for the Blackhawks Convention, the NHL Draft, and Summerfest. I've already asked for those dates off work; in some cases, such as a wedding, it's advisable to bring it up as early as the hiring stage.

Which brings me to the next topic. Jobs and internships. Summer for any college student of virtually any major is the time to build that resume, pimp your LinkedIn, and gain that legendary hands-on field experience. Not only does it show your post-graduation potential employers that you've really dedicated yourself and seen the business, but it also helps you see your future first hand and determine if it's really something you want to do. Even if you're just shadowing someone of your goal occupation, you might learn a lot more than you'll ever see in the classroom.

On the jobs side, we're all just trying to make a little money. The best part of summer is probably the enhanced nightlife. Something about summer makes things a little bit more lose, and little bit more exciting, and a little bit more fun. The air's a little bit more carefree and everyone's out to have a good time without the stress of the regular semester. But the only way to afford those long nights out is with a little side cash, not to mention the rations you're stowing away for fall tuition. While internships are great and all, there's a considerable chance you'll be unpaid. So maybe you'll have to pick up the part-time job at your local ice cream shop, scooping cones alongside some high school kids. But hey, money's money.

Once you've coordinated with the people you want to hang out with, planned the important stuff, and secured funding for your fun, you can take a deep breath of that fresh, warm air because congratulations, you're ready to take on summer.